Software Engineer, C++ Frontend
Full-Time San Francisco Bay Area or Remote Engineering $160,000–$220,000 + equity
3+ years preferred
We are looking for PCB designers who can code, or software engineers with real PCB design experience, to help improve the core Trace C++ frontend. This role is focused on the actual design experience: layout, editing, routing, constraints, visualization, performance, and the everyday workflows PCB designers rely on.
What you'll do:
Build and improve C++ frontend features for PCB and schematic design workflows
Work on layout interactions: selection, movement, snapping, placement, routing, measurement, alignment, and layer visibility
Implement workflows for components, nets, pads, vias, traces, polygons, planes, constraints, and design rules
Translate real PCB designer pain points into practical software improvements
Improve frontend performance for larger and more complex boards
Contribute to technical decisions around architecture, interaction models, and user-facing behavior
Required qualifications:
Experience designing PCBs — professionally, academically, or through serious personal projects
Strong programming ability, especially in C++
Understanding of PCB concepts: components, footprints, nets, routing, vias, copper pours, layers, clearances, and constraints
Strong eye for software usability and interaction details
Ability to think like both a PCB designer and a software developer
Comfort working on complex frontend systems where precision and performance matter
Nice to have:
Experience building desktop applications, CAD tools, EDA tools, graphics editors, or game engines
Experience with rendering, geometry, spatial data structures, or canvas-based editing systems
Familiarity with Qt, OpenGL, Vulkan, ImGui, or similar frontend/rendering technologies
Experience with PCB manufacturing files: Gerbers, drill files, pick-and-place, IPC formats
Familiarity with DRC, constraint systems, autorouting, or interactive routing behavior
Experience working with hardware engineers or PCB layout teams